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97. How Do I Repair A Missing Or Corrupt
Windows\System32\Config\Software File

This type of error usually indicated that the pc
has refused to start because of a corruption within
the registry. The following should remedy the
problem. However, it is important that you replace
all five registry hives. Simply replacing one or two
could, potentially, cause other problems.

NOTE

You should not use the method two set of
instructions below if your system has an OEM
(Original Equipment Manufacturer) copy of Windows
XP. Doing so will render your operating system
inoperable. OEM installations create passwords and
user name that did not previously exist. Therefore,
in your own interest, these instructions will not
remedy the problem. The easiest option with OEM
copies of XP is to reinstall XP using the
manufacturer’s recovery disks.

Easy Method

Restart your PC.

Keep tapping the F8 Button
until a menu appears.

When the menu appears use the UP
and DOWN arrow keys to select
the ‘Last known good configuration’
option.

Once selected press Enter.

Your PC should now reinstall the
last know good configuration file.

Restart your PC and see if
the problem has been solved.

If it hasn’t go on to the Harder Method
below.

Harder Method

Step One

Insert the Windows XP CD
into the CD-ROM and restart your pc.

At the Welcome to Setup
screen press R to start the
recovery Console.

The Recovery Console will now open and the
list of Windows installations will appear.

As you only have one installation on your PC
you need to press the number which is relevant
to your installations location. This, obviously
will typically be 1 (one).

When requested type in your
Administrator password. If you haven’t
set an administrator password, then simply press
Enter.

The Recovery Console command prompt window
will now appear.

At the Command prompt type
the following, pressing Enter
after you have typed each line.

md tmp

copy c:\windows\system32\config\system
c:\windows\tmp\system.bak

copy c:\windows\system32\config\software
c:\windows\tmp\software.bak

copy c:\windows\system32\config\sam
c:\windows\tmp\sam.bak

copy c:\windows\system32\config\security
c:\windows\tmp\security.bak

copy c:\windows\system32\config\default
c:\windows\tmp\default.bak

delete c:\windows\system32\config\system

delete c:\windows\system32\config\software

delete c:\windows\system32\config\sam

delete c:\windows\system32\config\security

delete c:\windows\system32\config\default

copy c:\windows\repair\system
c:\windows\system32\config\system

copy c:\windows\repair\software
c:\windows\system32\config\software

copy c:\windows\repair\sam
c:\windows\system32\config\sam

copy c:\windows\repair\security
c:\windows\system32\config\security

copy c:\windows\repair\default
c:\windows\system32\config\default

Now type Exit to exit the
recovery console.

Finally restart your pc.

Step Two

When the PC restarts log on as Administrator. if you are using Windows XP
Home you can only log on as Administrator
via Safe Mode.

The next step is to copy the registry
files from their backed up location using system
restore. However, before you can begin you need to
set the folder options in Windows Explorer to
Show Hidden Files and Folders.

Open Windows Explorer.

Click the Tools option on
the main toolbar.

From the drop down menu click on Folder options.

In the Folder options window
click the View tab.

Look down the file list until you come to a
section marked Hidden Files and Folders.

Click on the Radio button on
the left of the option Show hidden Files and
Folders to enable this option.

Next move down two lines and remove
the check mark next to the option
Hide Protected operating system files
(Recommended).

You will receive a message informing you that
editing or deleting these files could cause damage
to your system. Click Yes to
confirm that you want to display these files.

From the folder/directory list in Windows
explorer click on the drive where you installed
Windows XP

Open the System Volume Information
folder (The folder appears dimmed) If you
receive a System volume Information is not
accessible. Access denied Error message see
Microsoft Knowledgebase Article
309531

Inside you will find one or more folders that
look something like this: "_restore{87BD3667-3246-476B-923F-F86E30B3E7F8}".

If the folders are displayed as icons or
thumbnails click the View option on
the main toolbar and click on
Details to give a more detailed
view of the files.

Select a file that was not created at the
current time and that starts with RPx
(these are Restore Points).

Open one of these folders and look for a
Snapshot folder - for example: C:\System
Volume
Information\_restore{D86480E3-73EF-47BC-A0EB-A81BE6EE3ED8}\RP1\Snapshot

From this snapshot folder copy the following
files to C:\Windows\tmp folder

_REGISTRY_USER_.DEFAULT

_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY

_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE

_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM

_REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM

Now rename the files as
follows:

Rename _REGISTRY_USER_DEFAULT to
DEFAULT

Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SECURITY to
SECURITY

Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE to
SOFTWARE

Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM to
SYSTEM

Rename _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SAM to SAM

Step Three

You now have to delete the existing registry
files and copy the system restore registry files to
the C:\Windows\System32\Config folder.
You can do this either by using Recovery Console or
(if you file system is FAT32) by using a Windows 98
Start Up Disk) Whichever method you use you will be
presented with a command prompt. At the command
prompt type the following, remembering to press
Enter after you have typed each line.

del c:\windows\system32\config\sam

del c:\windows\system32\config\security

del c:\windows\system32\config\software

del c:\windows\system32\config\default

del c:\windows\system32\config\system

Now type the following, pressing Enter after you have typed each line: